DFAM Thing - Quick Start

Standalone	Eurorack

The DFAM Thing is a device that adds significant capabilities to the DFAM sequencer, such as:

• MIDI integration — clocking and individual step play,
• Reset — manual, via CV or via MIDI,
• Variations in the step order — Forward, Reverse, Bounce, Odds & Evens, Shuffle, Random and Custom,
• Changing the sequence length — 1 to 8 steps (up to 16 steps for a custom step order).

The new Eurorack version brings mostly the same capabilities in an 8HP Eurorack format, but with V/Oct CV support in place of MIDI.

The Primary DFAM Thing documentation can be found here.

The DFAM Thing Firmware Update guide can be found here.

Standalone Version

Quick Start Video - Standalone Version

The following video briefly shows the basic functions (using the internal clock).

Getting Started

• Apply USB power to startup the DFAM Thing.
• Connect the Advance output on the DFAM Thing to the ADV/CLOCK input on the DFAM.
• With the DFAM Sequencer off, advance to the first step.
• Rotate the DFAM Thing Control encoder until the LCD shows “Set step 1”.
• Click the encoder (the LCD will show “Step 1 set”).
• Toggle the Clock switch to select the internal clock.
• Hit the RUN Button on the DFAM - it will light up, but the sequencer will not advance.
• Hit the RUN Button on the DFAM Thing - the sequence will begin.

Variations

• Rotate the Rate control to change the speed of the sequence.
• Rotate the Control encoder and clock to select a different pattern.
• Note: Every time the “Shuffle” pattern is clicked, and new permutation of the 8 steps is generated.
• Click any of the numbered buttons to change the length of the sequence (the active length is shown on the right of the top row of the LCD).
• Tap (not press) the Run button on the DFAM Thing to reset the sequence to the first step.
• Press the Run button to stop the sequence playing (the light will go out).

Other Connections

• For more precise speed control, connect a clock source to the Trigger In input on the DFAM Thing, and select External on the Clock switch.
• For CV control of sequencer reset, connect a trigger source to the Reset input on the DFAM Thing, and send a trigger when you want to reset.

MIDI

• The DFAM Thing supports MIDI clock for timing, and MIDI notes for step selection using a standard 5 pin DIN.
• With the DFAM Thing stopped, connect a MIDI device to the DFAM Thing, then select MIDI on the Clock switch.

(I will use the Arturia KeyStep as an example)

Clock

• Press the Play button on the KeyStep, and the Sequencer will start.
• Press the Stop button on the KeyStep, and the Sequencer will stop.
• A MIDI Run message will always start from step 1.
• A MIDI Continue message will continue from the previous step.

Notes

• Select MIDI Mode using the Control encoder.

• The MIDI Channel is shown in brackets (it can be any of channels 1 to 7, or * for all channels)

• Ensure the Run button on the DFAM Thing is in its off state

• Play notes either manually or by running a sequence on the KeyStep/MIDI Controller, and the DFAM Thing will convert them to steps ion the DFAM as follows:

  • Any C: Step 1
  • Any D: Step 2
  • Any E: Step 3
  • Any F: Step 4
  • Any G: Step 5
  • Any A: Step 6
  • Any Bb: Step 7
  • Any B: Step 8

• If the Run button on the DFAM Thing is active, then triggering will occur not only when you play a note, but also when the clock fires. This can be quite effective, but is also a little confusing at first.

• New in firmware 1.3 of the standalone DFAM Thing is support for MIDI CCs when in MIDI clock mode.

  • MIDI CCs 16, 17 and 18 control pattern length, pattern type and clock multiplier respectively.
  • The DFAM Thing uses the high byte of the control value, so the changes occur at 0, 16, 32, 48 etc.

Run/Stop Control

The DFAM Thing supports controlling the Run state of the DFAM via the Run/Stop output. But the DFAM behaves differently when controlled via its RUN/STOP input. Specifically, if you start it up with a run signal to the RUN/STOP input, the sequencer will start, but without triggers. You need to also send in a pulse to the TRIGGER input each step. However, if you start via the Run button on the DFAM, it will trigger with the Adv/Clock pulses.

To work around with the DFAM Thing, I mult the Advance output to both the Trigger input and the ADV/CLOCK input on the DFAM. But mostly I just don’t wire up the Run/Stop output and use the button in the DFAM instead. 

In Firmware 1.1, an alternative use is available for the Run/Stop output, where it can be made to act as a cycle indicator instead, sending a pulse each time the sequencer pattern returns to its starting step. To toggle this option, keep the Control encoder pressed while the unit starts up. To know the current state, look for the ’*’ when the unit reports the firmware version — if present, the alternative mode is enabled.

Eurorack Version

The Eurorack version is an 8HP module, with V/Oct CV support in place of MIDI, and a dedicated encoder for selecting the number of steps in place of the 8 buttons of the standalone version.

Quick Start Video - Eurorack Version

Calibration and Other Options

To calibrate the V/Oct input, keep the Control encoder pressed on startup (for the original firmware version the Step encoder must be pressed as well) and hold down the asked for notes (C2 then C4). If the calibration fails, try adjusting the trimmer pot on the back of the lower board, and repeat.

In firmware v1.1, two additional options are available, and can be selected by holding down the Steps encoder on startup.

• First is the alternative Run/Stop mode, discussed above in the context of the standalone version. Click the Control encoder for the default behaviour, and the Steps encoder for the alternative behaviour (as indicated by the positions of the “Run” and “Cycle” text).

• Secondly, you can enable or disable the screensaver, that, if enabled, actives after 5 minutes of idle time.